Kerala - Kochi   

Help, a call away for students

G. Krishnakumar

SSLC students can access the facility from anywhere in the State

KOCHI: If the Education Department's announcement of SSLC examination result date is giving you jitters, here is a friend to soothe your tension and cool your head.

Ring the toll-free number `1098' and your friend at Childline will help you get your smile back.

From its office near the KSRTC bus station in Ernakulam district, Childline counsellors are gearing up to assuage students' fear of failure. The team is ready to answer the spate of calls that reach the office, four days ahead of the declaration of the results of this year's SSLC examination.

Said Sunil E.K., co-ordinator of the organisation: "Last year, we received more than 100 calls a day from SSLC students. The `1098' number is accessible from anywhere in the State. Some of the mobile companies have also given provision for making this call. It is a 24-hour service. About 11 counsellors will be available here this time to alleviate the fears of students."

Parents worried

Parents are the most worried group with many dialling the number to explain the mental condition of their children. Mr. Sunil said that parents would brief them about the trauma experienced by their children.

"Later, we ask them to hand over the phone to the child. Childline follows a professional counselling pattern while addressing their problems," he said.

On receiving a call, the counsellor elaborates on the life of great men who made it big in their lives after facing several defeats. He will present team India's pathetic performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup before students, as a perfect case study before students this time.

"We will tell them that the men in blue had been the hope of more than 100 crore Indians. But they failed to deliver. Students need to realise that they are not the only ones to lose in life. Slowly, we will encourage them to speak and thereby reduce the mental stress experienced by them."

The grading pattern, the counsellors said, had considerably reduced the stress associated with the publication of results. But the number of calls received at Childline failed to come down drastically, as students who received lower grades continued to seek expert help.

Only those who secure `D+' and above grades in all the papers will be eligible for higher studies.

Mr. Sunil said that students who scored `D' and `E' grades approached them for solace. "There is a steady rush of calls after the results are published. Our counsellors will be available round-the-clock to reduce the anxiety over the SSLC and other examination results," he said.

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